Epicardial ultrasonography: a potential method for intraoperative quality assessment of coronary bypass anastomoses?

Background: Intraoperative quality assessment in coronary artery bypass surgery confirms graft patency and enables revision of failing grafts. The aim of this study was to evaluate graft quality intraoperatively by epicardial ultrasonography and to compare this technique with transit time flow measurements and intraoperative angiography, and to evaluate the ability of these methods to predict long-term patency as described by follow-up angiography.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with mean age of 66 years (SD 9.

Improvement of coronary artery fistula surgery by intraoperative imaging.

Complete surgical closure of coronary artery fistulas may be difficult because of complex anatomy and often multiple sites of origin. This study therefore assessed whether intraoperative fistula imaging would contribute to and improve the final surgical result. Seven adult patients underwent operation for coronary arteriovenous fistula during a 10-year period.

Intraoperative angiography leads to graft revision in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Graft anastomosis quality in coronary artery bypass surgery can be assessed by intraoperative angiography. The aim of the present study was to quantify the on-table revision rate initiated by intraoperative angiography.

Methods: Intraoperative angiography was carried out in 186 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, with a total of 427 grafts.

The importance of intraoperative angiographic findings for predicting long-term patency in coronary artery bypass operations.

Background: The quality of anastomosis is the cornerstone in coronary artery bypass operations. Intraoperative coronary angiography confirms graft patency with the possibility to revise graft failure. The aim of this study was to describe the lesions found at "on-table" angiography, and to evaluate the significance of these immediate angiographic findings for the long-term patency.

Graft control by transit time flow measurement and intraoperative angiography in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between intraoperative transit time flow measurements and angiographic findings with long-term graft patency in 72 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: Transit time flow measurements with recording of mean flow and pulsatility indexes were performed after completion of the anastomoses. Coronary angiography was performed on-table while the patients were still in general anesthesia, and then at follow-up three months and 12 months after surgery.